Will and Testament — §23

Persian source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 23 of 59.

Source (Persian)

ای احبّای الهی در این دور مقدّس نزاع و جدال ممنوع و هر متعدّی محروم باید با جمیع طوائف و قبائل چه آشنا و چه بیگانه نهایت محبّت و راستی و درستی کرد و مهربانی از روی قلب نمود بلکه رعایت و محبّت را بدرجه‌ئی رساند که بیگانه خود را آشنا بیند و دشمن خود را دوست شمرد یعنی ابداً تفاوت معامله گمان نکند زیرا اطلاق امریست الهی و تقیید از خواصّ امکانی لهذا باید فضائل و کمالات از حقیقت هر انسانی ظاهر شود و پرتوش شمول بر عموم یابد مثلاً انوار آفتاب عالمتابست و باران رحمت پروردگار مبذول بر عالمیان نسیم جانبخش هر ذی ‌روحرا پرورش دهد و مائدۀ الهی جمیع کائنات حیّ را نصیب شود بهمچنین عواطف و الطاف بندگان حقّ باید بنحو اطلاق شامل جمیع بشر گردد در اینمقام ابداً تقیید و تخصیص جائز نه

Shoghi Effendi Translation

O ye beloved of the Lord! In this sacred Dispensation, conflict and contention are in no wise permitted. Every aggressor depriveth himself of God’s grace. It is incumbent upon everyone to show the utmost love, rectitude of conduct, straightforwardness and sincere kindliness unto all the peoples and kindreds of the world, be they friends or strangers. So intense must be the spirit of love and loving-kindness, that the stranger may find himself a friend, the enemy a true brother, no difference whatsoever existing between them. For universality is of God and all limitations earthly. Thus man must strive that his reality may manifest virtues and perfections, the light whereof may shine upon everyone. The light of the sun shineth upon all the world and the merciful showers of Divine Providence fall upon all peoples. The vivifying breeze reviveth every living creature and all beings endued with life obtain their share and portion at His heavenly board. In like manner, the affections and loving-kindness of the servants of the One True God must be bountifully and universally extended to all mankind. Regarding this, restrictions and limitations are in no wise permitted.

Translation Notes

ای

ʾ-y-y → “O”

literal: O; vocative particle; oh (vocative particle)

احبّای

ḥ-b-b → “ye beloved”

literal: love; affection

الهی

ʾ-l-h → “of the Lord” Distinctive

literal: God; Allah; deity; Divinity; divine nature; godhood

در

d-r-r → “In”

literal: in; in, at; radiant

این

ʾ-y-n → “this”

literal: this; these

دور

d-w-r → “far”

literal: cycle; dispensation; age; turn; round

مقدّس

q-d-s → “sacred” Distinctive

literal: holy, sacred, sanctified

نزاع

n-z-ʿ → “contention”

literal: to pull out; to deprive; to contest; to wrench away

جدال

j-d-l → “contention”

literal: to argue; to dispute; to contend; argument

ممنوع

m-n-ʿ → “hinder”

literal: forbidden; prevented; deprived

هر

h-r → “Every”

literal: whatever; all that; whatever thing

متعدّی

ʿ-d-y → “aggressor”

literal: transgressor; aggressor; one who exceeds bounds; transgression; to transgress; to exceed bounds

محروم

ḥ-r-m → “depriveth himself of God’s grace”

literal: sanctity, inviolability, dignity, honor, respect

باید

b-y-d → “It is incumbent upon everyone”

literal: by hand; with hands; eternal; perpetual; everlasting

با

b-ʾ-ʾ

literal: to; with; by

جمیع

j-m-ʿ → “unto all”

literal: to gather; to assemble; group; number

طوائف

ṭ-w-f → “circle” Distinctive

literal: flood, deluge, tempest

قبائل

q-b-l → “kindreds of the world”

literal: group; company; tribe; sort; kind

چه

ch-h → “For”

literal: what; what/for; whatsoever, that which

آشنا

sh-n-w → “heard” Distinctive

literal: most ugly; most abominable; most heinous

بیگانه

b-y-g → “divided humanity” Distinctive

literal: the unseen; the invisible; the hidden; the unknowable; stranger; foreign; alien; separated

نهایت

n-h-y → “utmost”

literal: end, limit, utmost, extreme; final; the end, limit, utmost bound; Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing; end; limit; terminus

راستی

r-ʾ-s-t → “sincerity”

literal: truth; verily; truly

درستی

d-r-s-t → “straightforwardness”

literal: correctness; straightness; uprightness; rectitude

کرد

k-r-d → “made”

literal: to do; to make; to perform; deed; action; conduct; behavior

مهربانی

m-h-r → “shining” Distinctive

literal: kindness, affection, clemency; kind, compassionate

از

ʾ-z

literal: from

روی

r-w-y

literal: to see; to perceive; to look; to see, to observe, to behold; to view; vision; dream; sight; ل is prefix; verb تری (you see) is from ر-ا-ي

قلب

q-l-b → “hearts”

literal: heart; to turn; to overturn

نمود

n-m-ʾ

literal: to become; to be

بلکه

b-l-k → “Nay”

literal: nay; but rather; on the contrary; but

رعایت

r-ʿ-y

literal: to guard, watch over, regard, heed, respect, maintain; care; protection; guardianship; watchfulness

را

r-ʾ-ʾ

literal: object marker; object-marker; to

بدرجه‌ئی

d-r-j

literal: degree; level; rank; step

رساند

r-s-n

literal: to reach; to convey; to cause to arrive; to deliver

که

k-h → “that”

literal: that; who; who, that

خود

kh-w-d → “himself”

literal: self; himself; herself; itself; own

بیند

b-y-n → “utterance” Distinctive

literal: to manifest; to make clear; clear, evident; in; among; between; at this moment

دشمن

d-sh-m-n → “enemy”

literal: enemy; adversary; foe

دوست

d-w-s-t → “friends”

literal: friend; beloved; to befriend

شمرد

sh-m-r

literal: to count; to regard; to esteem; to consider

یعنی

ʿ-n-y

literal: that is; meaning; i.e.

ابداً

ʾ-b-d

literal: in place of; instead of; to change; to alter (preposition or verb stem)

تفاوت

f-w-t → “escaped” Distinctive

literal: difference; distinction; gap; disparity

معامله

ʿ-m-l

literal: to work; to act; to do; to perform

گمان

g-m-n → “Think”

literal: supposition; opinion; conjecture; fancy; to suppose; to think

زیرا

z-y-r → “For”

literal: because; since; for; inasmuch as

اطلاق

ṭ-l-q → “applied”

literal: divorce; release; freeing

امریست

ʾ-m-r

literal: command; cause; matter; affair; Cause (of God); to command; to order

تقیید

q-y-d → “leader” Distinctive

literal: restriction; confinement; limitation; obedience; submission; being led

خواصّ

kh-ṣ-ṣ

literal: will; to wish; to want

امکانی

m-k-n → “Placeless” Distinctive

literal: establishment; confirmation; empowerment; firm settlement; place; possibility; being (negated as ‘non-being’)

لهذا

l-dh-ʾ → “therefore”

literal: therefore; for this reason; hence; so

فضائل

f-ḍ-l → “grace” Distinctive

literal: grace; grace/favor; grace, favor

کمالات

k-m-l → “perfections”

literal: perfection; completeness; fully; with full; in complete; to complete, perfect, fulfill

حقیقت

ḥ-q-q → “his reality” Distinctive

literal: truth; right; that which is true or just

انسانی

ʾ-n-s

literal: human; mankind; of humanity

ظاهر

ẓ-h-r → “may manifest”

literal: manifestation; appearance; to appear; to manifest; to display; to reveal; ظهور here means ‘backs’ (plural of ظهر), different semantic use than manifestation

شود

sh-w-d → “be”

literal: to come; to go; to arrive; came

پرتوش

p-r-t-w → “shine forth” Distinctive

literal: ray, beam; ray

شمول

sh-m-l

literal: to comprehend; to include; whole; all

بر

b-r-r → “upon”

literal: by, with, through (preposition)

عموم

ʿ-m-m → “all”

literal: universal; general; public; comprehensive

یابد

y-ʾ-f-t → “inhale” Distinctive

literal: find; to find, obtain; found

مثلاً

m-th-l

literal: like; example; parable; similitude

انوار

n-w-r → “light”

literal: light; illumination

آفتاب

ʾ-f-t-ʾ-b → “Day-Star”

literal: horizon, direction, region; horizon; sun

عالمتابست

ʿ-l-m → “shineth upon all the world”

literal: world; universe; the worlds

باران

b-r-n → “merciful showers”

literal: rain; to rain

رحمت

r-ḥ-m

literal: merciful, compassionate; pertaining to divine mercy

پروردگار

r-b-b → “of Divine Providence” Distinctive

literal: Lord; Sustainer; Provider; Creator

مبذول

b-dh-l → “confer”

literal: to give; to bestow; to expend

نسیم

n-s-m → “vivifying breeze”

literal: breeze; gentle wind; fragrance

جانبخش

j-ʾ-n → “lives” Distinctive

literal: Persian compound: جان (soul/life) + بخش (giver), not from Arabic ج-ن-ب

ذی

dh-w-y

literal: possessor; possessor of; possessor/owner

‌روحرا

r-w-ḥ → “spirit” Distinctive

literal: spirit; spiritual; soul

پرورش

p-r-w-r

literal: nourishment; education; upbringing; rearing; sustenance

دهد

d-h

literal: to give; to grant; to yield

مائدۀ

m-y-d → “bread” Distinctive

literal: table; field; table/banquet

کائنات

k-w-n → “be”

literal: to do; to make; to perform; to be; was

حیّ

ḥ-y-y → “endued with life” Distinctive

literal: life; living; shame

نصیب

n-ṣ-b → “their share and portion”

literal: share; portion; lot; fate

بهمچنین

h-m-ch-n → “likewise”

literal: always; ever; forever; at all times; constantly

عواطف

ʿ-ṭ-f → “of Thy loving providence” Distinctive

literal: compassionate; kindness/compassion; kindness

الطاف

l-ṭ-f → “loving-kindness” Distinctive

literal: kindness; grace; gentleness; benevolence

بندگان

b-n-d → “of the servants”

literal: servants; bondsmen; slaves

بنحو

n-ḥ-w → “manner”

literal: manner; way; direction; towards

بشر

b-sh-r → “mankind”

literal: human; mankind; human nature

گردد

g-r-d

literal: become; to become; make

اینمقام

q-w-m

literal: station; people; place

جائز

j-w-z → “transgressed” Distinctive

literal: permissible; allowed; possible; fair; lawful

نه

n-h-y

literal: end, limit, utmost, extreme; final; the end, limit, utmost bound; Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing; end; limit; terminus

Model Translations by Shoghi Effendi

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Bahá’u’lláh

The last outstanding Tablet revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, written around 1891 and addressed to Shaykh Muḥammad-Taqí of Iṣfahán. It calls upon that rapacious priest to repent, quotes the most celebrated passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

268 ¶

Fire Tablet

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in late 1871 during a period of severe hardship in ‘Akká, this Tablet takes the form of an anguished dialogue between Bahá’u’lláh and God. Questions about the sufferings of the faithful are answered with divine assurances, building to a crescendo of triumph over tribulation.

50 ¶

Gleanings

Bahá’u’lláh

A compilation of 166 selections from Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablets, spanning the Baghdad, Adrianople, and ‘Akká periods (1853–1892). George Townshend assisted with English refinement. Shoghi Effendi wrote that it gives the friends a splendid opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding of the Faith.

729 ¶

Kitáb-i-’Ahd

Bahá’u’lláh

The Book of the Covenant — Bahá’u’lláh’s Will and Testament, written entirely in His own hand and unsealed on the ninth day after His ascension. It designates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor and establishes what Shoghi Effendi called the mightiest Covenant in all religious history.

16 ¶

Kitáb-i-Íqán

Bahá’u’lláh

The principal doctrinal work of the Faith, revealed in Baghdad within the space of two days and two nights in response to questions from the Báb’s maternal uncle. Shoghi Effendi described it as occupying a position unequalled by any work except the Kitáb-i-Aqdas — a model of Persian prose, at once original, chaste, vigorous, and remarkably lucid.

291 ¶

Prayers and Meditations

Bahá’u’lláh

Published in 1938, this companion volume to Gleanings contains 184 prayers and meditations selected by Shoghi Effendi from Bahá’u’lláh’s devotional writings revealed across successive exiles from Baghdad to ‘Akká. Shoghi Effendi described it as a volume whose perusal would deepen the spirit of devotion and faith.

858 ¶

Tablet of Aḥmad

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed in Adrianople and addressed to a believer named Aḥmad, this Tablet has been invested by Bahá’u’lláh with a special potency and significance. Its central imagery draws on the metaphor of fire and water: “Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones.”

17 ¶

Tablet of Carmel

Bahá’u’lláh

Revealed during a visit to Mount Carmel, this Tablet addresses the mountain directly and prophesies its future as the world spiritual and administrative center of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi designated it one of three foundational Charters. Its imagery of the Ark and the dwellers therein prefigures the Universal House of Justice.

5 ¶

Tablet of the Holy Mariner

Bahá’u’lláh

Chanted aloud in the outskirts of Baghdad just weeks before the Declaration in the Garden of Riḍván, its gloomy prognostications aroused the grave apprehensions of all who heard it. Only the Arabic portion has an authorized translation; the Persian portion remains untranslated.

57 ¶

The Hidden Words

Bahá’u’lláh

Seventy-one Arabic and eighty-two Persian aphorisms revealed around 1858 while walking along the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. Originally designated the “Hidden Book of Fáṭimih,” Shoghi Effendi described it as a marvelous collection of gem-like utterances occupying a position of unsurpassed preeminence among the ethical writings of the Faith.

160 ¶